August 23, 2005

GOSSIP 2 GO 8/23

KEYS TO UNLOCK UNPLUGGED ALBUMAlicia Keys fans can start counting down to Oct. 11, the date which sees her new “MTV Unplugged” album in stores via J Records. The set’s first single, “Unbreakable,” will arrive at radio outlets on Sept. 12. In addition to new arrangements of "Heartburn" and "A Women's Worth," Keys joins rappers Common and Mos Def for "Love It or Leave It Alone," reggae artist Damian Marley for "Welcome to Jam Rock" and Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine for a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." As previously reported, "Unplugged" was taped in July at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and is due to air on MTV in mid-September – with five reruns scheduled. The show will also be available individually as a CD or DVD; or in a limited-edition package with both items.A PLUS SIZE OPPORTUNITYThe feature film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles and Eddie Murphy, will hold auditions for the role of Effie White this Saturday in St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit. Plus-sized African-American actresses/singers in their late teens to mid 20s (“NO OLDER!”) are encouraged to try out for the leading role made famous on Broadway by Jennifer Holliday. “She should have a huge gospel belt voice with great power and range,” says a statement from casting directors Debra Zane and Jay Binder. “All body types – from a few extra pounds to full-figured – are welcome.” Open calls will be held this Saturday (Aug. 27) in:• ST. LOUIS: Sheraton City Center St. Louis400 South 14th StreetSt. Louis, MO 63103Report t Breckenridge Ballroom - 13th Floor• CHICAGO: Westin Chicago River North320 North Dearborn StreetChicago, IL 60610Report t Astor Ballroom - River Level 1• DETROIT: Detroit Marriot at the Renaissance CenterRenaissance CenterDetroit, MI 48243Report to Brule Room - 5th Floor The casting notice reads: “You will be singing a cappella; please prepare eight bars of an up-tempo gospel, R&B, or pop theatre song that shows voice and range. Please bring a picture and resume. If you are called back on Sunday, you will be asked to perform a scene (which we will provide) and the song ‘And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going.’” The film, directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon, is set in the early 1960s to 1970s. It is the story of the amazing Dreams, an all-girl singing trio from the Detroit projects who break their hearts on the path to stardom. Filming begins in Los Angeles early next year.DOLCE AND GABANNA ARE GOING DOWN ON MENMen's fashion has hit a new low - and it's really, really low.An ad for the Dolce & Gabbana fall men's line featuring extremely low-riding jeans - nicknamed "pubic pants" by the fashion press - is an attention grabber, even in New York.Veteran adman Jerry Della Femina said the photograph made sense for the envelope-pushing design house."People are going to find it disgusting, but they're probably not the Dolce crowd," Della Femina said. "This is a campaign that only people who are sort of edgy and want to buy their clothing will see and appreciate."HOW MANY SEX TAPES ARE THERE??There's a new celebrity sex tape floating around -- and this is one you'll probably want to miss. Last week, the company that sold Paris Hilton's home video started selling footage of Tom Sizemore having sex with several women. Though the cash-strapped Sizemore says he had nothing to do with the release of the tape, we think he's telling a fibby fibAfter Calvin Klein rocketed to fame with ads featuring a teenage Brooke Shields and a "heroin chic" Kate Moss, designers learned that sex and shock value were good selling strategies.I HEEEEARD....JAY-z signed Beyonce's lil sis ,Solange, to a record deal.

ContactMusic.com reports that Nas is convinced of life on other planets after witnessing an alien spacecraft fly over Los Angeles four years ago. "I've seen the ship," the rapper insisted. "Four years ago in LA, I fu**ing saw a UFO. If you'd seen it you'd fu**ing bug. In the papers they said they were testing missiles. Right. That's what they say. Missiles is bullet-shaped."

Sources tell Star magazine that Jennifer Aniston walked out of an August 6th screening of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' that she attended with hairstylist Chris McMillan. Brad Pitt's ex bailed on the TV remake after just 30 minutes, reportedly giving a brief review of the Jessica Simpson starring flick afterwards, saying, "It sucked." (Jen maybe if you sucked Brad would still be yours) 50 Cent is suing Dodge for 1million dollars.He claims his likeness was used in one of their ads with the words"Just Like 50 Says".